Orbital ATK tests Orion Launch Abort System motor

Orbital ATK announced on May 1 that it has completed another milestone in the development of the attitude control motor (ACM) for NASA’s Orion spacecraft Launch Abort System (LAS). Members of the NASA and Lockheed Martin team were on hand to witness the successful ACM test, which demonstrated the motor’s power to steer the LAS during a mission-abort scenario.

This recent test is part of a design, analysis and test series focused on qualifying the ACM for crewed-flight missions. Initial data from the test shows the motor is very capable of fulfilling its critical role in the Launch Abort System.